Money exchanger attacked with chilli powder, robbed of Rs 5.17 lakh after being lured for forex deal in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: A 52-year-old city-based money exchanger was allegedly assaulted and robbed of Rs 5.17 lakh by three unidentified men who lured him on the pretext of a foreign currency exchange deal in the Vidyanagar area on Friday evening. The police have formed multiple teams, including crime branch units, to trace the suspects, who are believed to have links to Mumbai."Tejpal Singh Sundarsingh Sahani, a resident of Shah Colony in Usmanpura, lodged a complaint at the Pundaliknagar police station. An FIR has been registered under BNS sections 309(6) and 3(5), section 135 of the Maharashtra Police Act, and relevant provisions of the Indian Arms Act," said inspector Ashok Bhandare, of the Pundaliknagar police station.According to the police, Sahani, who runs a money exchange business, received a call around 5pm from a man identifying himself as Mahi Khan, who claimed to be associated with a travel agency. The caller said a client wanted to exchange US$ 5,500 and shared another contact number.As per the complaint, Sahani contacted the second number, and after negotiations, agreed to pay Rs 5.17 lakh in exchange for the dollars. The suspect then shared a map location and asked Sahani to bring the cash to the spot in Vidyanagar.The police, citing the complaint, said Sahani reached near plot 83 around 6pm on his motorcycle, carrying Rs 5.17 lakh — comprising 1,034 notes of Rs 500 — in a black bag. While he was waiting by the roadside, two unidentified men approached him. One allegedly threw chilli powder into his eyes, while the other attacked him with a sharp weapon, injuring his hand and back, and tried to snatch the cash bag."When Sahani resisted, one of the attackers repeatedly struck his wrist with the weapon, forcing him to release the bag. The two then fled towards a motorcycle, where a third accomplice was waiting with the engine running, and escaped with the cash," said DCP (crime) Ratnakar Navale, citing the complaint.The victim sustained injuries to his wrist, hand and nose during the attack and has stated that he would be able to identify the accused if produced before him.The police have registered a case against three unidentified men, including the mobile number holder who allegedly orchestrated the meeting. Call detail records and CCTV footage from the area are being analysed to trace the accused.